Any "pressure" is good pressure?

http://www.chron.com/local/education/cam...089909.php

The Legislature should pressure the presidents of the Big 12 schools to "step up" and let the University of Houston into the conference, the chairman of UH's Board of Regents, Tilman Fertitta, said Thursday.

"Put pressure on the presidents;, say, 'If you don't do this, we're not going to fund you for this,'" Fertitta said in a meeting with the Houston Chronicle's editorial board Thursday. "It's just the way it is. That's the way to do it."

Fertitta said it's "an embarrassment" that the namesake university of the fourth largest city in the United States has not been welcomed into the conference.

"Be a big boy, step up and put this school that has almost 50,000 students and is so high profile, has so many of the top schools in the United States, it's a tier one university -- we belong in the Big 12," he said. "We're a big, major school with an unbelievable history in athletics and academia."

If Houston is in, we are out.

(02-20-2015 10:09 AM)TJT Wrote:  If Houston is in, we are out.

Probably - but a separate question might be 'why speak out now and in such a public and forceful way?' You have to wonder if this guy knows something --- he's certainly in a good position for privileged info.

Houston had 3,500 people at their last home basketball game against SMU. That was their season high attendance. Now that's an embarrassment.

Houston's problem is geography. I don't think that Houston being in the B12 adds any additional TV sets.

Why add another Texas school?

Houston has vastly improved academically in the past few years, thanks in part to strong legislative support. They now have an endowment of about 3 times our own.

All I know is that:

(1) Some important people believe we will be in a "P5" conference within the next two years, and

(2) Now is NOT the time to take the foot off the gas. Untill every "P5 conference has 14 schools, there is opportunity. Like Daddy told me when I left for college in 1965, "now it's up to you".

These are not the words of someone who is working hard to get into the B12. These are the frustrated words of someone who has just found out the B12 will likely expand, and they will not be included.

(02-20-2015 11:15 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  These are not the words of someone who is working hard to get into the B12. These are the frustrated words of someone who has just found out the B12 will likely expand, and they will not be included.

That is exactly it.

They had better be careful, lest they get UAB'd...

(02-20-2015 11:17 AM)aardWolf Wrote:  They had better be careful, lest they get UAB'd...

yep. its important to know your role

(02-20-2015 11:18 AM)btiger Wrote:  

(02-20-2015 11:17 AM)aardWolf Wrote:  They had better be careful, lest they get UAB'd...

yep. its important to know your role

At least, that's what the Rock keeps saying.

(02-20-2015 11:17 AM)aardWolf Wrote:  They had better be careful, lest they get UAB'd...

That's a verb now ... LOL.

(02-20-2015 11:15 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  These are not the words of someone who is working hard to get into the B12. These are the frustrated words of someone who has just found out the B12 will likely expand, and they will not be included.

I think that's right. If you know that Big 12 additions are possible and you know you're in that mix you don't ask the state legislature to come in and force an invite. You continue to work that aspect quietly and behind the scenes.

(02-20-2015 12:01 PM)Tigers2B1 Wrote:  

(02-20-2015 11:15 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  These are not the words of someone who is working hard to get into the B12. These are the frustrated words of someone who has just found out the B12 will likely expand, and they will not be included.

I think that's right. If you know that Big 12 additions are possible and you know you're in that mix you don't ask the state legislature to come in and force an invite. You continue to work that aspect quietly and behind the scenes.

Board of Regents chairman wants to threaten his way into the Big 12 ->

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-s...soc_trk=tw

(02-20-2015 12:22 PM)Tigers2B1 Wrote:  

(02-20-2015 12:01 PM)Tigers2B1 Wrote:  

(02-20-2015 11:15 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  These are not the words of someone who is working hard to get into the B12. These are the frustrated words of someone who has just found out the B12 will likely expand, and they will not be included.

I think that's right. If you know that Big 12 additions are possible and you know you're in that mix you don't ask the state legislature to come in and force an invite. You continue to work that aspect quietly and behind the scenes.

Board of Regents chairman wants to threaten his way into the Big 12 ->

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-s...soc_trk=tw

Yea, that has all the markings about being butthurt over the inevitable.

Houston just adds nothing to the Big 12... At least Memphis and Cincy build a bridge to West Virginia, provide fertile recruiting grounds, and bring in new TV markets...

the non-texas b12 schools have had a butt-full of being bullied by texicans. this isnt the southwest conference anymore and all he did was line up 7 (tcu aint having none of this) "no" votes.

(02-20-2015 11:15 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  These are not the words of someone who is working hard to get into the B12. These are the frustrated words of someone who has just found out the B12 will likely expand, and they will not be included.

Yep, this sounds right.

(02-20-2015 12:34 PM)Tygrys Wrote:  Houston just adds nothing to the Big 12... At least Memphis and Cincy build a bridge to West Virginia, provide fertile recruiting grounds, and bring in new TV markets...

A market of 5 million people? And a school with 50,000 students? That is something to bring to the table. Now, UH doesn't have much fan support but that is a sleeping giant, and they have a history of great success. Oddly enough the fact that they are in Texas is a draw back.